Pediatric Anesthesia

Our approach to pain-relieving care for your child

Our pediatric anesthesia team provides anesthesia and sedation for infants, children, and adolescents including:

• Surgery
• Imaging tests such as MRI and CT scans
• Radiation therapy
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy
• Interventional and diagnostic procedures

We also support airway management, heart and lung assessment, and emergency care when needed. Our team partners closely with pediatric surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and other specialists to coordinate care before, during, and after procedures.

Spinal anesthesia is a safe option for infants 10 months and younger who need certain lower body procedures.

During spinal anesthesia, a small amount of numbing medication is placed into the spinal fluid using a thin needle. The medicine numbs your baby below the belly button and keeps them from moving their lower body. Although your child is awake during the procedure, many infants fall asleep on their own after receiving a spinal block.

Spinal block benefits include:

• No need for general anesthesia, breathing tubes, or opioid drugs
• Faster return to feeding
• Quicker discharge, often within an hour after arrival at the recovery unit

Your child’s care team will provide instructions about eating, drinking, and medication use before anesthesia.

You will meet with a member of the pediatric anesthesia team before the procedure. This is a good time to:

• Ask questions and share any concerns
• Provide a complete medical history, including allergies, medications, and supplements
• Share your child’s past experiences with anesthesia
• Let us know about a family history of anesthesia complications or neuromuscular conditions, such as muscular dystrophy

You may be able to stay with your child while they are prepared for anesthesia, and sometimes until they fall asleep. Talking calmly or helping your child focus on something familiar can be reassuring.

As anesthesia begins, your child may:

• Roll their eyes upward
• Seem restless and move around
• Snore or make funny noises

These reactions are normal and usually last less than a minute. Although your child may seem awake, they will not remember this part of the experience.

After the procedure, your child will wake up in a recovery area where they are closely monitored. Recovery time varies, but many children stay for up to three hours.

During recovery, your child may:

• Seem confused or restless or not recognize you
• Feel nauseated or vomit
• Need pain or anti-nausea medication

These effects are common and usually temporary. A care team member will explain what to expect and when your child is ready to go home.

After your child’s procedure, you should follow the care team’s instructions. You may need to:

• Keep your child resting and supervised
• Offer clear liquids and avoid heavy meals
• Help your child sleep on their side
• Limit physical activity for the rest of the day

For older children and teens, driving, alcohol, smoking, and vaping should be avoided after anesthesia.

You should call your child’s care team if your child has:

• A bad headache or pain
• Nausea or vomiting that lasts more than four hours
• Trouble drinking fluids or has not urinated for 12 hours
• Excessive sleepiness or restlessness

Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room if your child:

• Can’t wake up from sleep
• Has pale, gray, or blue skin
• Has slow or shallow breathing